wellbeing for teachers : Essential strategies for a Balanced Life

Introduction

wellbeing for teachers and mental health are not concepts to be taken lightly, as the wellbeing of the teacher is reflected in the overall classroom. Ask any teacher where their priorities lie, and the answer that follows will likely be “with their students.”This is not a problematic answer per se, as dedication to their students is part of their role as an educator.

However, in a profession full of selflessness, when does the provider of education, guidance, knowledge, motivation, and emotional support, get to prioritize themselves?

Teacher wellbeing plays a crucial role in student outcomes, workplace atmosphere, retention and recruitment for generations to come, as well as health, resilience and overall ability to serve their students.

As teacher shortages surge across the nation, the time to focus on wellbeing for teachers is now. For the sake of our educators, students and schools, it’s way past time to support those on the frontline of education.

Understanding Wellbeing for Teachers

In the context of teaching, wellbeing encompasses several dimensions that contribute to a teacher’s overall health, effectiveness, and job satisfaction. Here’s a breakdown of what wellbeing means for educators:

Emotional Wellbeing: This involves managing stress, staying positive and feeling fulfilled in one’s role. Teachers with good emotional wellbeing are better able to handle the pressures of the job and provide emotional support to their students.
Physical Wellbeing: This includes maintaining physical health through adequate rest, nutrition, and exercise. Teachers in good physical health are more likely to have the stamina needed to handle the demands of the job, such as long hours and active classroom engagement and management
Mental Wellbeing: This refers to having a healthy mental state, including the ability to handle stress, think clearly, and stay focused. Mental wellbeing allows teachers to maintain cognitive functions necessary for lesson planning, problem-solving, and effective instruction.
Social Wellbeing: This involves having supportive relationships and a sense of belonging within the school community. Positive interactions with colleagues, administrators, students, and parents contribute to a social wellbeing for teachers.
Professional Wellbeing: This relates to job satisfaction, feeling valued and respected, and having opportunities for professional growth and development. Teachers with high professional wellbeing are more engaged, motivated, and effective in their roles.
Work-Life Balance: Achieving a balance between professional responsibilities and personal life is crucial. Teachers need time for personal interests, family, and relaxation to avoid burnout and remain effective in their roles.
Autonomy: Being empowered to make decisions about teaching methods and classroom management contributes to a teacher’s sense of wellbeing.

Teaching is a unique role as it encompasses the weight of 20+ futures in each classroom on a daily basis. The distinct nature of this profession presents challenges that may impact the mental wellbeing for teachers. Nationwide teacher shortages have resulted in heavier workloads and more difficulty in taking time off. Many teachers experience high levels of stress within their roles, which can lead to decision fatigue and burnout. Teachers experience long workday hours which go well beyond their contractual time, which often leads to improper rest and poor work-life balance. With an array of tasks to accomplish and not enough time in the workday, the overall impact of on educator’s wellbeing can be detrimental

The Impact of Poor Wellbeing on Teachers and Students

Poor mental wellbeing for teachers can have detrimental effects on both teachers and students. The impact can be significant and includes:

Reduced Teaching Effectiveness: A reduction in quality of instruction may result in decreased engagement and lower productivity amongst students, which in turn can impact overall academic performance. Teachers struggling with mental wellbeing may not be able to address the diverse needs of their students, leading to gaps in learning.
Negative Classroom Climate: Increased stress levels or burnout may create a more tense or less supportive classroom atmosphere, which can affect student’s comfort in the classroom. High levels of stress result in teacher’s having less emotional bandwidth to provide support for their students.
Increased Behavioral Issues: A teacher’s mental health struggles can lead to inconsistent or ineffective classroom management, potentially resulting in increased behavioral problems among students.
Impact on Student Wellbeing: Students can pick up on their teacher’s stress and negative emotions, which can create a sense of unease or anxiety in the classroom. Also, when teachers have limited bandwidth to provide emotional support, students may not receive the guidance they need.
Increased Absenteeism: Poor wellbeing for teachers and teachers dealing with mental health challenges may have higher rates of absenteeism, which results in inconsistency in instruction. Students with teachers experiencing mental health challenges may also lack motivation to attend school, resulting in chronic absenteeism, which is currently sweeping the nation.

Practical Strategies for Enhancing Wellbeing for Teachers

Emotional & Mental Wellbeing

Stress Management: Exploring new practices like meditation, yoga, and regular exercise may help teachers manage stress.
Professional Counseling: Making an appointment for counseling or therapy services to discuss challenges and receive professional support may help teachers’ navigate what they are going through.
Boundaries: Employing time management techniques may help teachers balance workload and reduce stress. Small changes such as setting clear work/life boundaries like planning to leave by a specific time each day can help prevent burnout.
Positive Mindset: Regularly acknowledging and celebrating achievements and efforts. Maintaining compassion for oneself and others. Recognizing that we are all doing the best we can might also work as wellbeing for teachers.

Physical Wellbeing

Regular Physical Activity: Participation in physical activities, such as fitness classes or regular walks, help to increase physical health.
Healthy Eating Options: Prioritizing healthy snacks and meals contributes to physical wellness.

Social Wellbeing

Collaborative Workplace Culture: Opportunities for teachers to collaborate and share ideas through team meetings, professional learning communities, or social events fosters a collaborative environment.
Mentorship Programs: Mentorship programs where experienced teachers can support and guide newer teachers help to cultivate a supportive workplace.
Team Building Activities: Regular team-building activities or social events strengthen relationships and build a supportive network among staff.
Safe and Supportive Environment: A school culture that prioritizes safety, respect, and inclusion for all staff members will reflect inside the classroom and act as wellbeing for teachers.

Professional Wellbeing

Professional Development: Ongoing professional development opportunities that are relevant and engaging, especially those with an emphasis on wellbeing, allow teachers to grow in their careers and experience clarity. Spark Mentoring Programs offers professional development that was created in response to a deep desire for educators to experience their own well-being more often, and thus be able to multiply their impact with the youth they serve.
Autonomy in the Classroom: Teachers thrive on the flexibility to adapt their teaching methods and classroom management strategies to fit their style and their students’ needs.
Reduced Administrative Burden: A support staff that handles non-teaching responsibilities and a responsive administrative team allows teachers to focus more on teaching.
Fair Compensation: Teachers should be fairly compensated for their work and recognized for the value of their contributions.
Encourage Time Off: Teachers often feel discouraged from using PTO. Taking personal time off should be promoted. Ensuring that teachers feel comfortable using their vacation days is necessary to prevent burnout.

School’s Role in Supporting Wellbeing for Teachers

As a teacher’s place of work, schools play a vital role in supporting teacher wellbeing. Supporting faculty wellbeing can present itself as a variety of initiatives, ranging from fostering positive workplace relationships to ensuring the availability of mental health resources.

Promoting a culture of wellbeing specifically the wellbeing for teachers require targeted strategies that address their unique needs and challenges. Much of this responsibility falls on the school’s administration and leadership. Some approaches that school leadership can employ to foster a thriving work atmosphere include:

Create a Supportive Environment: Foster an environment where teachers feel valued,supported, and heard. Recognize teacher’s efforts and achievements to help them feel valued and supported, and create opportunities for them to express their needs and concerns.
Provide Professional Development: Offer training and workshops focused on stress management, resilience, and self-care. Ensure that professional development also includes practical strategies for managing classroom stress and workload. The Spark Initiative offers a resilience-based, professional development course for educators.
Encourage Work-Life Balance: Implement policies that promote work-life balance, such as flexible scheduling, reduced paperwork, and support for taking personal time off.
Manage Workload: Help manage teachers’ workloads by providing adequate planning time, reducing unnecessary administrative tasks, and ensuring that class sizes are manageable.
Recognize and Address Burnout: Be proactive in identifying signs of burnout and stress among teachers. Create a wellbeing for teachers supportive environment where teachers feel comfortable discussing their struggles and seeking help.
Create a Positive Work Culture: Develop a positive and inclusive school culture where teachers feel a sense of belonging and purpose. Promote open communication, respect, and a focus on collective goals.

While school-based leadership has the responsibility to ensure that their schools foster a culture of wellbeing for their employees, the same responsibility shifts to district and state-wide leadership. The same approaches implemented on a school by school basis can be taken county or even state-wide. In addition to this, mental health initiatives should be encouraged and provided on a larger scale. Many districts and states have implemented such initiatives for students, but have not done the same for educators. As the frontline in every classroom, teachers deserve the same mental health resources as students. In fact, given the effects of poor teacher mental health on students, it could be argued that teacher mental health is foundational for student mental health and wellbeing.

Wide-spread initiatives such as Employee Assistance Programs that provide access to counseling services, referral services and crisis intervention are a necessary support for wellbeing for teachers. District-wide wellness programs promote a healthy lifestyle and give resources for stress management and overall physical health. Mental health resources are an essential part of workplace care, especially in a role like teaching, which can be so mentally taxing. It is the responsibility of leadership at all levels to ensure these resources are relevant and readily available.

Conclusion

Teachers are the instructors of future generations and are the backbone of our educational system. In a role that requires a professional to wear so many hats, stress, burnout and unhealthy habits often ensue. According to WeAreTeachers.com, 70% of educators state that their schools are understaffed which leads to a heavier workload, and more than three quarters of teachers find their jobs stressful on a regular basis. Wellbeing for teachers is a topic that is not often spoken about or prioritized, but at The Spark Initiative, we feel that it’s time to shine a light on the critical importance of teacher wellbeing.

Every single person in society has encountered or been impacted by a teacher in some way. Teachers taught us, and are now teaching our children. They deserve access to quality mental health services including counseling, mentoring and professional development. Many teachers wake up before the sun rises and stay well beyond their contractual hours so taking a mental health day should be encouraged, not reprimanded due to lack of support personnel. Teachers deserve fair and balanced workloads, and a positive work environment.

Join us in promoting wellbeing for teachers! Vote for school board personnel and state representatives who prioritize mental health and education. Next time you encounter a teacher from your past or daily life, thank them. Become an advocate for those who constantly advocate for their students. At The SPARK Initiative, we know very well that no one can pour from an empty cup, and burnout is real. As professionals working with youth on a regular basis, we have seen our own effectiveness vary, depending upon how filled our ‘cups’ were. We stand united with educators who demand their wellbeing be prioritized and will continue to provide resources to thrive wellbeing for teachers.

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Wellbeing for Teachers: Essential Strategies for a Balanced Life